NorthLink Ferries
 |
|
| Public | |
| Industry | Transport |
| Founded | 2002 (NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries) 2006 (NorthLink Ferries) 2012 (Serco NorthLink Ferries) |
| Headquarters | Stromness, Orkney, Scotland. Offices in Aberdeen & Lerwick |
|
Area served
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Pentland Firth, Orkney and Shetland |
|
Key people
|
Stuart Garrett (Managing Director) |
| Services | Ferries |
| Parent | Serco |
| Website | http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk |
NorthLink Ferries (also referred to as Serco NorthLink Ferries) is an operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, as well as ferry services, between mainland Scotland and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland. Since July 2012, it has been operated by international services company Serco.
The subsidised Northern Isles ferry services, previously run by P&O Scottish Ferries, were put out to tender in 1999. A joint venture between Caledonian MacBrayne and RBS Group, named NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries, won the contract and began operation in October 2002.
A variety of factors, including competition from rival operator Pentland Ferries, the Norse Island Ferries group created by local hauliers concerned about NorthLink's proposed freight pricing, and higher-than-expected operation costs, contributed to financial difficulties within the company. In response, the Scottish Executive Transport Group (now Transport Scotland) made additional subsidy payments of £0.6 million and agreed to restructure subsidy payment timing.
In mid-2003 the company indicated that it would be unlikely to complete its contract due to the financial difficulties. NorthLink defaulted on its lease payments for the vessels in July and August 2003, and in April 2004 the Scottish Executive announced that the service would be re-tendered due to NorthLink's inability to fulfil the terms of the contract.
The company continued to operate under interim arrangements until April 2006 while a new contract was secured.
On 19 July 2005, the Scottish Executive announced that three companies - V-Ships, Irish Continental Ferries and Caledonian MacBrayne - had bid to provide ferry services to the Northern Isles. Irish Continental, however, withdrew its bid in October 2005, leaving two potential operators on the closing date of 1 December 2005. Both of the remaining bids complied with the contract requirements, but Caledonian MacBrayne's lower bid meant it was awarded the contract.
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Wikipedia